Battle of Tewkesbury in the Wars of the Roses approx. 5,000 men Battle of Tewkesbury - Background: The dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses took a decisive turn in 1461 following the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Towton . Victorious, Yorkist Edward IV supplanted Lancastrian Henry VI, who was prone to bouts of insanity, on the throne. Ruling in relative peace for nearly a decade, Edward's actions as king began to alienate several of his key supporters including Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Known as the "Kingmaker" for his connections and role in Edward's elevation, Warwick became sufficiently irritated in 1469 to lead forces against the king in open rebellion. Enlisting the aid of the king's younger brother, the Duke of Clarence, Warwick sought to replace Edward with the duke. Defeated in 1470, the two were forced to flee to France. There they entered into the service of Henry's wife, Queen Margaret, and the Lancastrian cause. Returning to England that October, Warwick succeeded in forcing Edward to flee to Burgundy and Henry VI was returned to the throne.

Not to be deterred, Edward made the necessary preparations and landed on the Yorkshire coast on March 14, 1471 with an army. Coming ashore, he stated that he only sought to reclaim his father's title of Duke of York. Clashing at the Battle of Barnet on April 14, Edward succeeded in defeating the Lancastrians and killing Warwick. Capturing the docile Henry VI, Edward occupied London and reclaimed his throne. On the same day that Warwick was defeated, Margaret and Edward, Prince of Wales landed at Weymouth. Swiftly joined by the veteran commander Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, they learned of Warwick's defeat. Unwilling to attack Edward without first augmenting his forces, Somerset began moving towards Wales where he hoped to unite with troops under Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke. Moving to Battle: To the east at Windsor, Edward learned of Margaret's arrival and began moving towards the West Country to intercept the Lancastrian army before it could be reinforced. Marching hard, Somerset's men were compelled to make a detour to Bristol to re-supply and then another when the city of Gloucester refused them entry.

As a result, the Lancastrians were forced to head to Tewkesbury where they hoped to cross the River Severn. Closely followed by Edward, Somerset was able to avoid battle at Sodbury, but was concerned about being attacked as his army crossed the river. As a result, with his columns approaching Tewkesbury, Somerset elected to turn and fight on May 3. Selecting a strong position south of the town and including a pasture known as the Gastum (Gastons), he formed his army into three battles with himself commanding the right, Lord Wenlock the center, and the Earl of Devon the left. Somerset's right flank was anchored on small stream with a forest park opposite, while his left was on the banks of the Swillgate River. Arriving the next day, Edward was eager to destroy the Lancastrian army to prevent the rebellion from spreading. The Battle of Tewkesbury: Arriving on the field early the next day, Edward deployed his army with Richard, Duke of Gloucester's (future Richard III) men on the left, his own in the center, and Lord Hastings on the right.

Possessing an advantage in artillery and archers, Edward began a bombardment with the goal of softening the strong Lancastrian position. In addition, concerned about a possible flank attack from the woods on the left, he dispatched a force of 200 mounted spearmen to keep guard. While enduring the bombardment, Somerset devised a plan to strike at Gloucester's flank ( Map ). Leaving a line of men to screen his movements, Somerset led his troops across a series of back roads to the base of a hillock in the forest park. From this point he intended to strike at Gloucester while Wenlock launched a frontal assault. Moving forward, Somerset's men failed to strike directly at the Yorkist flank and instead veered towards Edward's troops in the center. As the fighting raged, Wenlock failed to come to Somerset's aid. As a result, Somerset was halted and pushed back by Gloucester. As his men struggled to hold their ground, they were assaulted in the flank by the mounted spearmen from the park. Driven back, Somerset's men suffered heavy losses in an area known as the Bloody Meadow.

Escaping back to the main Lancastrian lines, Somerset accused Wenlock of treason and may have struck him down. On the Yorkist side, Edward turned over the pursuit of Somerset's shattered division to Gloucester and began an attack on the remaining Lancastrian lines. Striking at the enemy's center, which was now leaderless and full of rumors of treason, the Yorkists succeeded in shattering the Lancastrian position. Many of the Lancastrians, including the Prince of Wales, were cut down as they fled north. Aftermath of Tewkesbury: Several of the Lancastrian leaders, including Somerset, sought sanctuary in nearby Tewkesbury Abbey. Forced out, he was quickly tried and executed by Edward in the days after the battle. In the fighting, the Lancastrians lost around 2,000 men. Yorkist losses are not known, but most likely were significantly less. The victories at Barnet and Tewkesbury brought the second phase of the Wars of the Roses to an end as Edward effectively consolidated his hold on the throne. This was aided by the capture of Margaret a short time later.

With Margaret in custody and the Prince of Wales dead, Henry VI remained the last Lancastrian who posed a threat to his throne. Imprisoned in the Tower of London, Henry died of "melancholy" on May 21 or 22, though it is generally believed that he was murdered on Edward's orders. This threat removed, Edward ruled in relative peace until his death in 1483. Selected Sources UK Battlefields Resource Centre - Wars of the Roses - The Battle of Battle of Tewkesbury Battle of Tewkesbury 4th May 1471 On the same day as the Lancastrians were defeated at the battle of Barnet, on 14th April 1471, Queen Margaret with Prince Edward and supporters arrived back in England from exile in France. Landing at Weymouth, the Queen was joined by Lancastrian supporters led by the Duke of Somerset. After Barnet, Somerset would not attempt an assault upon the Yorkist forces without superior numbers and so, in order to reinforce his army, Somerset headed for Wales where he could count upon the support of Jasper Tudor.

King Edward meanwhile was at Windsor and, learning of the Lancastrian manoeuvres, he headed for the West Country in an attempt to intercept the Queen and Somerset before they could reach Wales. The Lancastrian advance to Wales was delayed, first when they made a detour to Bristol for much needed supplies, and second when the city of Gloucester refused them entry. Instead they headed north to make the crossing of the River Severn at Tewkesbury. Edward, at the nead of his army, having narrowly missed an opportunity to confront the enemy at Sodbury, followed in pursuit. The Lancastrians arrived at Tewkesbury first on 3rd May. They had marched swiftly for several days, covering the last twenty four miles in just sixteen hours, and so their troops were exhausted. With Edward hard on their heels Somerset chose to stand and fight, rather than risk his army being caught in a bottle-neck as they attempted the difficult crossing of the Severn at Lower Lode, a mile south of the Abbey. Somerset had the choice of ground and he chose to set his camp in a pasture close called ‘Gastum’ (now The Gastons) to the south of the Abbey.

The next morning, the 4th May, he probably deployed his army between the Gastons and Gupshill Manor, with his left flank against the Swillgate River (little more than a stream) and his right across the gently sloping ground to a stream on the west. Thus Edward arrived to find the Lancastrians already deployed and so he arrayed his army to the south of and parallel to Somerset’s. The battle of Tewkesbury was to prove a decisive encounter, which ended the second phase of the Wars of the Roses. Edward IV's victory and the death of Henry VI’s son and heir, shortly followed by Henry’s own death and Queen Margaret’s imprisonment, destroyed hopes of a Lancastrian succession and led to fourteen years peace. Much of the land to the east of the Gloucester Road (previously the A38, before the bypass was built) is now covered by modern development. Only a small area around and including 'Margaret’s camp', a Scheduled Ancient Monument, remains open. However the western half of the battlefield remains largely as agricultural, although there has been significant development to the south-east of Bloody Meadow in what was the Gastons.

There is some dispute as to the exact positioning of the two armies and the extent of the action and thus it is not wholly clear how much of the battlefield lies within the undeveloped area. Access is possible along the Gloucester Road, which becomes the A38, from which there are good views. Footpaths allow access to Bloody Meadow, Lincoln Green and Southwick Park. It is in the latter that the probable ‘hillock’ used by Somerset in his flank attack can be found. Footpaths also cross the Vineyards in front of the Abbey where the battle monument is located. KEY FACTS The Battle of Tewkesbury (May 4, 1471) [Wars of the Roses] Search THE BATTLE OF TEWKESBURY (May 4, 1471), was, strictly speaking, the last battle fought in the Wars of the Roses , for the Battle of Bosworth can hardly be included in those wars. Queen Margaret landed in England the very day that Warwick was defeated and slain at Barnet , but despite this severe blow to the Lancastrian cause, she was persuaded by Somerset and other lords of her party to continue her advance.

She had landed at Weymouth, and at first marched westward to Exeter, where she was joined by reinforcement from Devon and Cornwall. She then moved eastward to Bath, but learning that Edward was marching against her, she determined to march to the north, where the chief strength of the Lancastrians lay. After a tedious march she reached Tewkesbury on May 3, and the next day Edward gave battle. The Lancastrians were utterly routed, owing in no small degree to the treachery or folly of Lord Wenlock, who neglected to bring up the reinforcements in time. Queen Margaret was taken prisoner, and her son, Prince Edward, either fell in the battle, or, more probably, was put to death immediately after. The Duke of Somerset and others, who had taken sanctuary , were beheaded two days after in the market-place at Tewkesbury. This decisive battle coming so soon after the victory at Barnet completely established Edward IV on the throne. The Dictionary of English History. Sidney J. Low and F. S. Pulling, eds. London: Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1910. 994-5.

Other Local Resources: The Battle of Tewekesbury, 4 May 1481 (DBA Battle Scenario) > Battles > DBA Resources > Fanaticus One of the most significant and bloodiest battles of the Wars of the Roses was fought at Tewkesbury on Saturday 4th May 1471. The battle was the culmination of a campaign by Edward IV to crush the resurgent Lancastrians and place the Yorkists on the English throne where they remained until1485. Following her exile in France, Queen Margaret of Anjou (the wife of Henry VI) returned to England in April 1471 with her son Prince Edward of Lancaster, to continue the Lancastrian struggle against the Yorkists which had failed 10 years previously at Towton. Queen Margaret and her forces moved north from Weymouth via Exeter, Taunton, Bath and Bristol. Meanwhile the Yorkist Edward IV had quickly assembled his forces and marched from London to intercept her. Upon learning of Edward's movements, Queen Margaret moved her army towards Gloucester.

Being unable to ford the River Severn at Gloucester to rendezvous with Jasper Tudor and his force coming to her support from Wales, Queen Margaret then marched to the next river crossing at Tewkesbury. Her exhausted troops made camp and awaited the arrival of the Yorkist army. King Edward and his army had spent the night of the 3rd May encamped at Tredington, 3 miles south of Tewkesbury. On the morning of the 4th they advanced in battle order towards the waiting Lancastrians, who were in a relatively strong position with both flanks protected by water and their front by hedges and ditches. The battle began with missile exchanges by both archers and artillery. Richard of Gloucester led a charge against the Lancastrian right flank but was beaten back. Somerset then made a bold move. Splitting his battle into two parts, he left one part to hold position while the other moved around the Yorkist left flank in difficult terrain of woods and hillocks. Emerging from the trees they fell on Gloucester's men. It had been Somerset's intention that having achieved this tactical surprise, the rest of the Lancastrian army would attack in support.

For some reason, this did not happen and both Wenlock and Devon remained where they were. Elsewhere the force of 200 spearmen that Edward had posted to the west in Tewkesbury Park had become aware of Somerset's flanking move and joined the battle, attacking Somerset in the rear. Surrounded, Somerset's men fought tenaciously but were inevitably defeated and pursued by Yorkist forces to the "Bloody Meadow" where hundreds were put to the sword. The Lancastrians lost about 2000 casualties. Meanwhile, King Edward took advantage of the confusion to scatter the remaining Lancastrian forces. Prince Edward was slain as he tried to reach the sanctuary of the Abbey, while Lord Wenlock was murdered by an enraged Somerset for not supporting his advance. Queen Margaret fled west across the Severn to Malvern but later accompanied King Edward on his victorious return to London. That night, 21st May 1471, Henry VI died and the house of York was at last secure on the throne of England. The Armies It is extremely difficult to be precise about the strength of the opposing armies in this period.

However, the sources state that the Lancastrians slightly outnumbered the Yorkists and that the former numbered about 6000. Rayner (2004) suggests the Yorkist strength to be thus about 5500. Both sides used artillery and the Yorkists had handgunners. The Yorkists also had a force of 200 (mounted?) spearmen that played a significant part in the battle. Based on the size of the armies, each element represent about 500 men. Lancastrian Army- 1x 3Kn (Gen) (Somerset), 1x 4Bd (men at arms), 3x 4Bd, 6x 3/4Lb, 1x Art.

(Note, this is the "by the book" IV/83 Wars of the Roses army) Yorkist Army- 1x 3Kn (Gen) (Edward IV), 1 x3Kn (Gloucester), 3x 4Bd, 4x 3/4Lb, 1x Art, 1x 3Sp (Notes: The 3Sp element can be replaced by a 3Cv element if the view is taken that the 200 spearmen were mounted. An additional 2Ps element can be added to represent the handgunners.) Deployment Armies of this period typically deployed in three "battles": Lancastrian Battle of Tewkesbury (1471) | Wars of the Roses | Medieval Battles | Battlefields of Britain Battlefields of Britain Medieval Battles > Wars of the Roses BATTLE OF TEWKESBURY (1471) Fresh from his victory at Barnet, where he defeated the Earl of Warwick and reclaimed his throne, Edward IV now sought to annihilate the Lancastrian dynasty.

On 4 May 1471 at the Battle of Tewkesbury he almost achieved this aim when his forces routed the Lancastrians and killed Henry VI’s only son and heir. Skip to > Historical Background Edward IV had seized power in 1461 following his decisive victory at the Battle of Towton . Although he would later capture the deposed Henry VI, a 'court in exile' was established by Queen Margaret along with her son Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward IV was briefly overthrown when one of his former allies - Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (the Kingmaker) - joined with the Lancastrian cause. Supported by Louis XI of France, Warwick invaded England forcing Edward IV to flee. Henry VI was briefly restored but Edward IV returned, raised an army and defeated Warwick at the Battle of Barnet (1471). Once again Henry VI was imprisoned in the Tower of London . On the 14 April 1471, the same day as Barnet, Queen Margaret returned to England with a second army headed by Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset and including Edward, Prince of Wales.

Landing in Weymouth the news of Barnet quickly reached them and accordingly Somerset decided to head north to Wales where he could expect reinforcements and support from Jasper Tudor. Edward IV deployed to intercept the Lancastrian force in order to kill Edward, Prince of Wales and end the dynastic struggle. Prelude The Lancastrian force initially made for Gloucester, the nearest crossing point over the River Severn. However they were desperately short of provisions and detoured to Bristol. The delay allowed sufficient time for Edward IV to arrive in the vicinity and on 2 May 1471 both forces were in the proximity of Sodbury. Somerset was keen to avoid battle until reinforced and he skilfully tricked Edward into thinking that the Lancastrians would give battle at Sodbury. By the time the King realised it was too late and his opponents were miles ahead of him marching towards Gloucester. There they hoped to cross the River Severn by the town's bridge whilst concurrently protected by the city's defences. Edward set out in pursuit and sent messengers ahead to Gloucester informing the Governor, Sir Richard Beauchamp, that he was approaching.

Upon the arrival of the Lancastrians, Beauchamp flatly refused to open the city gates. With Edward now just hours behind them, the Lancastrians had little choice but to march on to Tewkesbury, the next crossing point over the River Severn. But here there was no bridge - instead crossings were made by ferry and to ship the entire army across would take hours. When the Lancastrians arrived in the late afternoon, it was too late to commence a crossing and besides Edward was too close; rather than risk a rout of his force as they attempted to cross the Severn, Somerset prepared defensive positions assuming a battle would be fought next day. Edward's force, unable to make Tewkesbury before dark, camped at Tredington (around 2 miles to the south-west). Numbers The size of the two armies is a matter of some conjecture. Some historians suggest Somerset had the larger force but he was clearly very cautious of the opposition; possibly because he lacked faith in a significant portion of his own army whilst also noting how effective Edward's had been at Barnet. He deployed in the traditional three battle array.

He commanded the vanguard whilst the centre was nominally under the command of Edward, Prince of Wales although effective control was exercised by Lord Wenlock, a turncoat who had formerly been a Lancastrian (at St Albans) and then Yorkist (at Towton) before changing sides once again. Edward IV also deployed in three battles. He commanded the centre (although effective control may have been delegated to the Duke of Clarence). Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) commanded the left. The Battle The battle was fought on 4 May 1471. - Stage 1: Deployment Somerset deployed his force to the south of Tewkesbury Abbey with his position protected by a hedge-lined road that ran east-west in front of his line. His intent was to conduct a flank attack on the Yorkists concurrent with Lord Wenlock attacking with the rest of the Lancastrian army in the centre. However, Edward IV foresaw the danger to his left flank and positioned a small force of spearmen on the high ground to the west, a wooded area known as The Park. - Stage 2: Artillery Exchange The battle commenced with an exchange of artillery fire.

It is likely the Yorkists had the better of this for they inevitably brought ordnance with them from Barnet. The Lancastrians probably only had a limited number of guns that they had collected at Bristol. - Stage 3: Flank Attack Somerset now commenced his flanking action. Using the topography, trees and a screen of additional soldiers as cover, he slipped round to the west of the main battle and launched his flank assault on Edward's left. - Stage 4: Spearmen The Yorkist infantry was caught unawares by Somerset's attack and started to fall back but then the Lancastrian plan unravelled; Wenlock did not attack in the centre as planned and, seeing the main assault on the left, Edward deployed his spearmen to surround Somerset's force. - Stage 5: Somerset Defeated Now faced with attacks on two sides - from both the Yorkist left and the spearmen - Somerset's men fell back and then broke. The troops fled the battlefield with many attempting to escape across the field now named 'Bloody Meadow'; a not so subtle reference to the slaughter that followed.

- Stage 6: Lancastrians Retreat Somerset escaped and returned to his own lines where he promptly killed Wenlock with a battle-axe for his failure to attack. The battle, however, was lost; the Lancastrian centre was now leaderless and the entire army broke into rout. Many attempted to escape by swimming the River Severn. Aftermath The Lancastrian losses were in the region of 2,000. Crucially Edward, Prince of Wales - the son and heir of Henry VI - died in the encounter. Whether he was killed in battle or subsequently murdered is uncertain. Shakespeare, in Henry VI Part 3 (Act V, Scene V), has the defiant young Prince murdered by the Duke of Clarence. Another account suggests he was found in the immediate aftermath of the battle, identified and summarily executed. Either way Edward IV knew that whilst the Prince lived there would always be a rival who would be a rallying call for opposition to his rule. Furthermore this was the grandson of Henry V, the great Warrior King, whose historical exploits were held in much higher esteem than the lacklustre reign of Edward IV; from the Yorkist perspective the Prince of Wales could not leave the battlefield alive.

Somerset was also targeted and, despite seeking sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey, was dragged out where he was tried and executed in the subsequent days. Overall the battle was a decisive Yorkist victory with the only viable Lancastrian heir eliminated. This cleared the way for Edward to arrange the murder of Henry VI, who was already a prisoner in the Tower of London , and achieved the virtual annihilation of the Lancastrian line and imprisonment of Queen Margaret. Edward would now rule as undisputed King for the next 12 years but his unexpectedly early death would open a final opportunity for the Lancastrian cause. Edward IV left two young sons who were deposed (and possibly murdered) by his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III). This helped create conditions suitable for the very last Lancastrian claimant - Henry Tudor - to invade and whose victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) ended the Yorkist era. Bibliography Baldwin, D (2013). Richard III. Amberley Publishing, Stroud. Beresford, M.W and St Joseph, J.K.S (1979). Medieval England - An Aerial Study. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Blyth, J.D (1961). The Battle of Tewkesbury. Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Societ, Bristol. Bruce, J (editor) (1838). Historie of the Arrivall of Edward IV. Camden Society, London. Burne, A.H (2005). Battlefields of England. Pen and Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley. Cyprien, M and Fairbairn, N (1983). A Traveller's Guide to the Battlefields of Britain. Evans Brothers Ltd, London. Dodds, G.L (1996). Battles in Britain 1066-1746. Arms & Armour, London. Douglas, D.C and Myers, A.R (ed) (1975). English Historical Documents Vol 5 (1327-1485). Routledge, London. English Heritage (1995). Battlefield Report: Tewkesbury 1471.Swindon. Green, H (1973). Guide to the Battlefields of Britain and Ireland. Constable, London.

Gairdner, J (1896). History of the Life and Reign of Richard III. University Press, Cambridge. Goodman, A (1981). The Wars of the Roses. London Hall, E (1809). Chronicle. London. Kinross, J (1979). The Battlefields of Britain. London. Lancaster, J.H.D (2014). Tewkesbury: Battlefield visit notes and observations. CastlesFortsBattles.co.uk. Ordnance Survey, 2016. Tewkesbury. 1:1250. Southampton. Ramsay, J.H (1892). Lancaster and York: A Century of English History (AD 1399-1485). Oxford. Ransome, C (1889). English Historical Review.. London. Smith, T (editor) (1909). The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 Parts VII and VIII. London. Smurthwaite, D (1993). The Complete Guide to the Battlefields of Britain.

Michael Joseph, London. Scofield, C.L (1923). The Life and Reign of Edward the Fourth. London. Seward, D (1995). A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses. Robinson, London. Smurthwaite, D (1993). The Complete Guide to the Battlefields of Britain. Michael Joseph, London. Wright, G.N (1988). Roads and Trackways of Wessex. Moorland. What's There? Portions of the battlefield are now under modern housing whilst bloody meadow has been converted into a football ground. Nevertheless the area of the battlefield can be walked (and there is a battlefield trail/footpath) that captures the key components of the battle. The monument, pin-pointed on the Google map below, is in the vicinity of the abbey although the bulk of the fighting was done to the south along Gloucester Road. We recommend starting at the Abbey and following the trail from there. Monument. The site of the monument and the Abbey itself are well to the rear of the Lancastrian position and the battlefield. Once the troops broke into rout however they came through here as the fled the scene.

The Duke of Somerset himself sought sanctuary in the Abbey but was dragged out and executed. Bloody Meadow. The area where many of the Lancastrians were killed as they retreated became known as Bloody Meadow. Today it is a football pitch although it is marked by an information board. Battlefield. Much of the battlefield is now developed although small areas give an idea of what the terrain was like in 1471. Getting There The battle was fought over a large portion of the local area; from the Abbey and down Gloucester Road. Bloody Meadow, scene of the final rout is nearer the waterfront. Car parking is available. Abbey and Monument Battle of Tewkesbury | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Stoke Field The Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses . The forces loyal to the House of Lancaster were completely defeated by those of the rival House of York under their monarch, King Edward IV. The Lancastrian heir to the throne, Edward, Prince of Wales , and many prominent Lancastrian nobles were killed during the battle or were dragged from sanctuary two days later and immediately executed.

The Lancastrian King, Henry VI , who was a prisoner in the Tower of London , died or was murdered shortly after the battle. Tewkesbury restored political stability to England until the death of Edward IV in 1483. Contents Edit This article does not contain any citations or references. Please improve this article by adding a reference. For information about how to add references, see Template:Citation . The term, the Wars of the Roses, refers to the informal heraldic badges of the two rival houses of Lancaster and York which had been contending for power, and ultimately for the throne, since the late 1450s. In 1461 the Yorkist claimant, Edward, Earl of March, was proclaimed King Edward IV and defeated the supporters of the weak, intermittently insane Lancastrian king Henry VI at the Battle of Towton . Lancastrian revolts in the far north of England were defeated in 1464, and the fugitive King Henry was captured and imprisoned the next year. His Queen, Margaret of Anjou , and their thirteen-year-old son Edward of Westminster , were exiled and impoverished in France. Edward IV's hold on the throne appeared temporarily to be secure.

Edward IV owed his victory in large measure to the support of his cousin, the powerful Earl of Warwick . They became estranged when Edward spurned the French diplomatic marriage that Warwick was seeking for him and instead married Elizabeth Woodville , widow of an obscure Lancastrian gentleman, in secret in 1464. When the marriage became public knowledge, Edward placed many of his new queen's family in powerful positions that Warwick had hoped to control. Edward meanwhile reversed Warwick's policy of friendship with France by marrying his sister Margaret to Charles the Bold , the Duke of Burgundy . The embittered Warwick secured the support of Edward IV's brother George, Duke of Clarence , for a coup, in exchange for Warwick's promise to crown Clarence king. Although Edward was imprisoned briefly, Clarence was unacceptable as monarch to most of the country. Edward was allowed to resume his rule, outwardly reconciled with Warwick and Clarence. Within a year, he accused them of fresh treachery and forced them to flee to France. Readeption of Henry VI Edit With no hope of a reconciliation with King Edward, Warwick's best hope of regaining power in England lay in restoring Henry VI to the throne.

Louis XI of France feared a hostile alliance of Burgundy under Charles the Bold and England under Edward. He was prepared to support Warwick with men and money, but to give legitimacy to any uprising by Warwick, the acquiescence of Margaret of Anjou was required. Warwick and Margaret were previously sworn enemies, but Margaret's attendants (in particular Sir John Fortescue , formerly Chief Justice during Henry VI's reign) and Louis eventually persuaded her to ally the House of Lancaster with Warwick. At Angers, Warwick begged her pardon on his knees for all past wrongs done to her, and was forgiven. Prince Edward was betrothed to Warwick's younger daughter Anne . (The marriage was eventually solemnised at Amboise on 13 December 1470 but may not have been consummated, as Margaret was seeking a better match for Edward once he was King.) [4] Finally, they swore loyalty to Henry VI on a fragment of the True Cross in Angers Cathedral . However, Margaret declined to let Prince Edward land in England or to land there herself until Warwick had established a firm government and made the country safe for them.

[5] Warwick landed in the West Country on 13 September 1470, accompanied by Clarence and some unswerving Lancastrian nobles, including the Earl of Oxford and Jasper Tudor , the Earl of Pembroke. As King Edward made his way south to face Warwick, he realised that Warwick's brother John, Marquess of Montagu , who had up till then remained loyal to Edward, had defected at the head of a large army in the North of England. Edward fled to King's Lynn where he took ship for Flanders, part of Burgundy, accompanied only by his youngest brother, Richard of Gloucester , and a few faithful adherents. In London, Warwick released King Henry, led him in procession to Saint Paul's cathedral and installed him in Westminster palace. Warwick's position nevertheless remained precarious. His alliance with Louis of France and his intention to declare war on Burgundy was contrary to the interests of the merchants, as it threatened English trade with Flanders and the Netherlands. Clarence had long been excluded from Warwick's calculations.

In November 1470, Parliament declared that Prince Edward and his descendants were Henry's heirs to the throne; Clarence would become King only if the Lancastrian line of succession failed. Unknown to Warwick, Clarence secretly became reconciled with his brother, King Edward. [6] Edward's landing and the death of Warwick Edit With Warwick in power in England, it was Charles of Burgundy's turn to fear a hostile alliance of England and France. As an obvious counter to Warwick, he supplied King Edward with money (50,000 florins), ships and several hundred men (including handgunners). Edward set sail from Flushing on 11 March 1471 with 36 ships and 1200 men. [7] He touched briefly on the English coast at Cromer but found that the Duke of Norfolk , who might have supported him, was away from the area and that Warwick controlled that part of the country. Instead, his ships made for Ravenspurn , near the mouth of the River Humber , where Henry Bolingbroke had landed in 1399 on his way to reclaim the Duchy of Lancaster and ultimately depose Richard II .

Edward's landing was inauspicious at first; the ships were scattered by bad weather and his men landed in small detachments over a wide area on 14 March. [8] The port of Kingston-upon-Hull refused to allow Edward to enter, so he made for York, claiming rather like Bolingbroke that he was seeking only the restoration of the Duchy of York. He then began to march south. Near Pontefract Castle he evaded the troops of Warwick's brother Montagu. By the time Edward reached the city of Warwick, he had gathered enough supporters to proclaim himself King again. The Earl of Warwick sent urgent requests for Queen Margaret, who was gathering fresh forces in France, to join him in England. He himself was at Coventry, preparing to bar Edward's way to London, while Montagu hastened up behind the King's army. Edward however, knew that Clarence was ready to turn his coat once again and betray Warwick, his father-in-law. He marched rapidly west and joined with Clarence's men who were approaching from Gloucestershire. Clarence appealed to Warwick to surrender, but Warwick refused to even speak to him. Edward's army made rapidly for London, pursued by Warwick and Montagu.

London was supposedly defended by the 4th Duke of Somerset , but he was absent and the city readily admitted Edward. The unfortunate and by now feeble Henry VI was sent back to the Tower of London. [9] Edward then turned about to face Warwick's approaching army. On 14 April, they met at the Battle of Barnet . In a confused fight in thick fog, some of Warwick's army attacked each other by mistake and at the cries of "Treachery!" his army disintegrated and was routed. Montagu died in the battle, and Warwick was cut down trying to reach his horse to escape. The Tewkesbury campaign Edit Urged on by Louis XI, Margaret had finally sailed on 24 March. Storms forced her ships back to France several times, and she and Prince Edward finally landed at Weymouth in Dorsetshire on the same day that the Battle of Barnet was fought. While Margaret sheltered at nearby Cerne Abbey , the Duke of Somerset brought news of the disaster at Barnet to her. She briefly wished to return to France, but Prince Edward persuaded her to gamble for victory. [10] Somerset and the Earl of Devon had already raised an army for Lancaster in the West Country.

Their best hope was to march northwards and join forces with the Lancastrians in Wales, led by Jasper Tudor. Other Lancastrian forces could be relied upon to distract King Edward; in particular, a fleet under Warwick's relation, the Bastard of Fauconberg , was preparing to descend on Kent where the Nevilles and Warwick in particular had always been popular. In London, King Edward had learned of Margaret's landing only two days after she arrived. Although he had given many of his supporters and troops leave after the victory at Barnet, he was rapidly able to muster a substantial force at Windsor, just west of London. It was difficult at first to determine Margaret's intentions, as the Lancastrians had sent out several feints which suggested that they might be making directly for London, but Edward's army set out for the West Country within a few days. On 30 April, Margaret's army had reached Bath, on its way towards Wales. She turned aside briefly to secure guns, reinforcements and money from the city of Bristol. [11] On the same day, King Edward reached Cirencester . On hearing that Margaret was at Bristol, he turned south to meet her army.

However, the Lancastrians made a feint towards Little Sodbury , about 12 miles (19 km) north-east of Bristol. Nearby was Sodbury Hill, an Iron Age hill fort which was an obvious strategic point for the Lancastrians to seize. When Yorkist scouts reached the hill, there was a sharp fight in which they suffered heavy casualties. Believing that the Lancastrians were about to offer battle, Edward temporarily halted his army while the stragglers caught up and the remainder could rest after their rapid march from Windsor. However, the Lancastrians instead made a swift move north by night, passing within 3 miles (4.8 km) of Edward's army. By the morning of 2 May, they had gained the safety of Berkeley Castle and had a head start of 15 miles (24 km) over Edward. [12] King Edward realised that the Lancastrians were seeking to cross the River Severn into Wales. The nearest crossing point they could use was at the city of Gloucester. He sent urgent messages to the Governor, Sir Richard Beauchamp , ordering him to bar the gates to Margaret and man the city's defences.

When Margaret arrived in the morning of 3 May, Beauchamp refused Margaret's summons to let her army pass, and she realised that there was insufficient time to storm the city before Edward's army arrived. Instead, her army made another forced march of 10 miles (16 km) to Tewkesbury, attempting to reach the next bridge at Upton-upon-Severn , 7 miles (11 km) further on. Edward meanwhile had marched no less than 31 miles (50 km), passing through Cheltenham (then little more than a village) in the late afternoon. The day was very hot, and both the Lancastrians and Edward's pursuing army became exhausted. The Lancastrians were forced to abandon some of their artillery, which was captured by Yorkist reinforcements following from Gloucester. [12] At Tewkesbury, the tired Lancastrians halted for the night. Most of their army were footmen, and unable to continue further without rest, and even the mounted troops were weary. By contrast, King Edward's army was composed mainly of mounted men, who nevertheless dismounted to fight on foot as most English armies did during this period.

Hearing from his "prickers" or mounted scouts of Margaret's position, Edward drove his army to make another march of 6 miles (9.7 km) from Cheltenham, finally halting 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Lancastrians. The Lancastrians knew they could retreat no further before Edward attacked their rear, and that they would be forced to give battle. Battle Edit [[File:Tewkesbury abbey.jpg|thumb| Tewkesbury Abbey ]] As day broke on 4 May, the Lancastrians took up a defensive position a mile south of the town of Tewkesbury. To their rear were River Avon and the Severn. Tewkesbury Abbey was just behind the Lancastrian centre. A farmhouse then known as Gobes Hall marked the centre of the Lancastrian position; nearby was "Margaret's camp", earthworks of uncertain age. Queen Margaret is said to have spent the night at Gobes Hall, before hastily taking refuge on the day of battle in a religious house some distance from the battlefield.

[13] The main strength of the Lancastrians' position was provided by the ground in front, which was broken up by hedges, woods, embankments and "evil lanes". This was especially true on their right. The Lancastrian army numbered approximately 6,000. [2] As was customary at the time, it was organised into three "battles". The right battle was commanded by the Duke of Somerset. A stream, the Colnbrook, flowed through his position, making some of the ground difficult to traverse. The Lancastrian centre was commanded by Baron Wenlock . Unlike the other principal Lancastrian commanders, Wenlock had deserted the Lancastrian cause after the First Battle of Saint Albans, only to revert to the Lancastrians when he was deprived of the Lieutenancy of Calais . Prince Edward was present with the centre. At eighteen, Prince Edward was no stranger to battlefields, having been given by his mother the task of condemning to death Yorkist prisoners taken at the Second Battle of St Albans, but he lacked experience of actual command. The left battle was commanded by the Earl of Devon , another devoted Lancastrian.

His battle, and part of the centre, occupied a low ridge known locally as the "Gastons". [14] A small river, the Swilgate , protected Devon's left flank, before curving behind the Lancastrian position to join the Avon. Edward's moves Edit The Yorkists numbered 5,000 and were slightly outnumbered by the Lancastrians. [2] Like the Lancastrians, King Edward organised his army into three battles. Edward's vanguard was commanded by his youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester . Although he was only eighteen years old, Richard was already an experienced commander and had led a division at the Battle of Barnet. Edward himself commanded the main battle, in which Clarence was also stationed. Edward was twenty-eight years old, and at the height of his prowess as a soldier. His lifelong friend and supporter, Lord Hastings , commanded the rear. He too was an experienced commander and like Richard, had accompanied Edward into exile in the Low Countries and had led a battle at Barnet.

Although by tradition, the vanguard occupied the right of the line of battle, several authors have conjectured from descriptions in near-contemporary accounts (such as the Historie of the arrivall of Edward IV ) that Richard of Gloucester's division actually took position to the left of Edward's battle [2] or that the divisions of Edward's army advanced in line ahead, with Edward's division leading. Edward made one other important tactical disposition. To the left of his army was a thickly wooded park. Concerned that hidden Lancastrians might attack from this quarter, he ordered 200 mounted spearmen to occupy part of the woods and prevent the Lancastrians making use of them, or act on their own initiative if they were not themselves attacked.

[2] He then "displayed his bannars: dyd blowe up the trompets: commytted his caws and qwarell to Almyghty God, to owr most blessyd lady his mother: Vyrgyn Mary, the glorious Seint George, and all the saynts: and advaunced, directly upon his enemyes." [15] Action Edit As they moved towards the Lancastrian position, King Edward's army found that the ground was so broken up by woods, ditches and embankments that it was difficult to attack in any sort of order. However, the Yorkist archers and artillery showered the Lancastrians with arrows and shot. The Yorkists certainly had more guns than their enemies, and they were apparently better served. [16] Either to escape the cannonade and volleys of archery or because he saw an opportunity to outflank King Edward's isolated battle, the Duke of Somerset led at least part of his men via some of the "evil lanes" to attack Edward's left flank. Although taken by surprise, Edward's men resisted stoutly, beating back Somerset's attack among the hedges and banks.

At the vital moment, the 200 spearmen Edward had earlier posted in the woods far out on the left attacked Somerset from his own right flank and rear, as Gloucester's battle also joined in the fighting. Somerset's battle was routed, and his surviving army tried to escape across the Severn. Most were cut down as they fled. The long meadow astride the Colnbrook leading down to the river is known to this day as "Bloody Meadow". [16] Somerset galloped up to Wenlock, commanding the centre, and demanded to know why Wenlock had failed to support him. According to legend (recounted in Edward Hall 's chronicle, written several years afterwards though from first-hand accounts), he did not wait for an answer but dashed out Wenlock's brains with a battleaxe [17] before seeking sanctuary in the Abbey. As its morale collapsed, the rest of the Lancastrian army tried to flee, but the Swilgate became a deadly barrier. Many who succeeded in crossing it converged on a mill south of the town of Tewkesbury and a weir in the town itself, where there were crossings over the Avon.

Here too, many drowned or were killed by their pursuers. Aftermath of the battle Edit The execution of the Duke of Somerset after the battle Among the leading Lancastrians who died on the field were Somerset's younger brother John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset and the Earl of Devon. Prince Edward was found in a grove by some of Clarence's men. He was summarily executed, despite pleading for his life to Clarence, who had sworn allegiance to him in France barely a year before. [11] Many of the other Lancastrian nobles and knights sought sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey . King Edward attended prayers in the Abbey shortly after the battle. He granted permission for Prince Edward and others slain in the battle to be buried within the Abbey or elsewhere in the town without being quartered as traitors as was customary. However, two days after the battle, Somerset and other leaders were dragged out of the Abbey, and were ordered by Gloucester and the Duke of Norfolk to be put to death after perfunctory trials. [13] Among them were Hugh Courtenay, younger brother of the Earl of Devon, and Sir John Langstrother , the prior of the military order of St. John .

[11] The Abbey was not officially a sanctuary, [18] though it is doubtful whether this would have deterred Edward even if it had been. It had to be re-consecrated a month after the battle, following the violence done within its precincts. A few days later, Margaret sent word to Edward from her refuge that she was "at his commandment". [19] Fauconberg's repulse Edit Edward was unable to rest after the battle. Lancastrians under Jasper Tudor were still active in Wales, and there was an ineffective rising in the North. Edward went to Coventry in the Midlands to make dispositions against the northern and Welsh Lancastians, and give his army three days' rest. [13] The most dangerous Lancastrian force however, was that commanded by the Bastard of Fauconberg. As anticipated, he had landed at Sandwich and rapidly recruited a force from among the pro-Neville Kentishmen. Together with exiled Lancastrians and freebooters from several countries, his army may have numbered 16,000 or even 17,000 in total.

[13] On 14 May, he attacked London from the south. His men burned Southwark Bridge and part of the suburb of Southwark , but were beaten back at London Bridge . The next day, they attacked Aldgate and Bishopsgate from the east. The garrison of the Tower of London, led by Earl Rivers , the Queen's brother, who had been injured at Barnet, repulsed them. Citizens defending their property undoubtedly played a major role. Had Fauconberg succeeded in capturing the city, he might also have captured Edward's Queen Elizabeth and their children and released King Henry from the Tower. However, on hearing that Edward's army was approaching, he retreated to Sandwich. Like Margaret, he appeared to be dispirited by the news of Tewkesbury and Prince Edward's death, and later rather tamely surrendered himself and his ships. He was executed five months later after attempting to escape from custody. The end of the Lancastrian royal family Edit Yorkist defenders of London sally against Fauconberg's besieging force.

On his way to suppress Fauconberg and the Kentish rebels, Edward passed through London in triumph on 21 May, with the captive Queen Margaret beside him in a chariot. King Henry VI died in the Tower of London that night, at the hands of or by the order of Richard of Gloucester according to several contemporary accounts. [20] It was announced in public that he had died "of pure displeasure and melancholy", but few believed this. Gloucester later married Anne Neville, the younger daughter of Warwick and the widow of Prince Edward. With the deaths of Somerset and his younger brother, the House of Beaufort , who were distant cousins of Henry VI and had a remote claim to succeed him, had been almost exterminated. Only the female line of Somerset's uncle, the 1st Duke of Somerset , remained, represented by Lady Margaret Beaufort and her son Henry Tudor . Henry escaped from Wales with Jasper Tudor, his paternal uncle, and remained in exile in Brittany for the remainder of Edward's reign.

The year after the Battle of Tewkesbury however, Lady Margaret married Lord Stanley , one of King Edward's supporters, who later turned against Edward's brother Richard of Gloucester when he became King as Richard III, and was instrumental in putting Henry Tudor on the throne. Re-enactment Every year the battle is re-enacted on the second weekend in July at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival . The event (founded in 1984) is the largest event of its kind in Europe, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world. Footnotes battle of Tewkesbury - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com battle of Tewkesbury Definitions of battle of Tewkesbury 1 n the final battle of the War of the Roses in 1471 in which Edward IV defeated the Lancastrians Synonyms: a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place Word Family Usage Examples Sign up, it's free! Whether you're a student, an educator, or a life-long learner, Vocabulary.com can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

Question: In which was the Battle of Tewkesbury fought?
Answer: WAR OF THE ROSES